Cabinet Approves Changes to Jan Vishwas Bill to Decriminalize Offences in 42 Laws

The Union Cabinet has reportedly approved amendments to the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023. The proposed changes aim to decriminalize minor offences by amending 183 provisions across 42 Acts administered by 19 ministries. The objective is to promote ease of doing business and reduce the backlog of court cases.

Background:

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill was initially introduced by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in the Lok Sabha on December 22, 2022. It was later referred to a joint committee of parliament, which engaged in detailed discussions with the ministries and departments involved. The committee adopted its report in March 2023, which was presented before the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

Key Points of Jan Vishwas Bill 2023:

Aim:

• The bill aims to decriminalize minor offences by replacing them with monetary penalties.
• It seeks to promote ease of doing business by addressing the fear of imprisonment for minor infractions.

Amendments to Acts:

• The bill proposes amendments to 183 provisions across 42 Acts administered by 19 ministries.
• Some of the Acts to be amended include the Boilers Act, Aadhaar Act, Legal Metrology Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Public Debt Act, Pharmacy Act, Cinematograph Act, Copyright Act, Patents Act, Environment (Protection) Act, Motor Vehicles Act, Trade Marks Act, Railways Act, Information Technology Act, Prevention of Money-laundering Act, Food Safety and Standards Act, Legal Metrology Act, and Factoring Regulation Act.

Unique Feature:

• The bill introduces a unique feature whereby the minimum amount of fine and penalty levied will increase by 10% after every three years once the bill becomes law.

Benefits and Significance of the Bill:

Ease of Doing Business:

• Decriminalizing minor offences removes the fear of imprisonment, thereby fostering a conducive business environment.
• Outdated rules and regulations contribute to a lack of trust, which the bill aims to address.

Minimum Government, Maximum Governance:

• The bill aligns with the government’s vision of achieving Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.
• It redefines the regulatory landscape, contributing to ease of living and doing business reforms.

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